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Veterans' Day program held at FUMC

The annual Veterans' Day Program was held Sunday morning at Kane's First United Methodist Church. Organizer Colleen Lundeen, along with Associate Pastor Jay Tennies and Eagle Scout Candidate Jon Luke Gelsick helped the event become one of the biggest yet. This year's program honored all U.S. Veterans, but especially focused on those who served during World War II.Approximately 50 veterans were recognized as being in attendance as the program started off with songs by both the youth chime choir and the children's choir. Pastor Tennies, who was formerly the Director of the World War II museum in Eldred, was next at the podium as he reminded the audience that "our world would look entirely different if it weren't for those 16 million" Americans that servedduring World War II. He spoke of some of the famous veterans he has conversed with in his capacity at the Eldred museum, as well as some of his conversations with the veterans from the Kane area.Tennies then introduced Jeff Lindquist, who served in the U.S. Air Force. Lindquist recounted the story of how Julia Ward Howe wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic 150 years ago near the beginning of the Civil War and how those lyrics still hold true today. The Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Kathy Long, and accompanied by Debbie Airgood, then gave a very moving rendition of the classic.Lundeen then returned to the podium to begin the veteran's tribute portion of the program. Bob Arnold, who served as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, told the story of a woman who lost her father, uncle, husband and two sons in three different campaigns, leaving many in the audience with tears in their eyes.See full article by purchasing the Nov. 14 edition of The Kane Republican.